The NEXT Academy

The Search for Fulfillment is a new short series released each Friday where we uncover lessons of the greatest minds to help you live with purpose, passion, and peace. In today's episode, Brian asks, "What system or habit can you create today that will help you navigate challenges more effectively and move closer to a fulfilling life?" Enjoy Episode 43 of The Search for Fulfillment. #BeNEXT

Hard Lines, Soft Skills — Emotional Intelligence in Work BootsYelling isn't leadership—it's noise. In this episode, step onto a high-pressure data center build with a foreman who trades barking orders for field-ready emotional intelligence. You'll hear how simple moves—naming tension without inflaming it, correcting in private, praising in public, and acting fast on craft feedback—drive trust, safety, and real production. Backed by insights inspired by Daniel Goleman, Gallup, FMI, and real contractor case studies, this episode shows foremen and supers how to hold high standards and keep people bought in. If you run crews and want fewer blowups, better retention, and stronger performance, this one's non-negotiable listening. #BeNEXT

The Goods is a new series that delivers wisdom for personal and professional growth. In today's episode, Michael unpacks how a lost stuffed animal and a few creative frontline employees turned a simple customer problem into a story of unforgettable trust. Learn why empowering people at the edge, celebrating thoughtful details, and protecting discretionary effort can quietly define your culture and brand.Enjoy Episode 44 of The Goods. #BeNEXT

The Search for Fulfillment is a new short series released each Friday where we uncover lessons of the greatest minds to help you live with purpose, passion, and peace. In today's episode, Brian asks, "What is one imperfection you can embrace today, and how might it help you grow and find deeper fulfillment?" Enjoy Episode 42 of The Search for Fulfillment. #BeNEXT

Right-Sized Crews — Line Balance Without the BurnoutIf your productivity chart looks like a heart monitor, this episode is for you. Walk a clinic floor with a foreman who stops chasing “more bodies” and starts balancing the line. You'll learn field-ready moves: a 30-minute walk-and-watch to find the true bottleneck, a plywood Yamazumi to size tasks, two simple work cells (layout + install) with a dedicated runner, and a visual flow board with a tongue-in-cheek purple baton to signal “truly ready.” We'll show how capping WIP, dynamic rebalancing, and tiny pit-stops cut rework and overtime—without cutting corners. Foremen and supers: turn spikes into steady beats and make Tuesday feel like a metronome. #BeNEXT

The Goods is a new series that delivers wisdom for personal and professional growth. In today's episode, Michael spotlights Emily Warren Roebling, who stepped into the storm to translate complex engineering into clear action and carry the Brooklyn Bridge to completion. Discover how learning fast, leading without permission, and turning credibility into cadence can hold a mission together when everything's swaying.Enjoy Episode 43 of The Goods. #BeNEXT

The Search for Fulfillment is a new short series released each Friday where we uncover lessons of the greatest minds to help you live with purpose, passion, and peace. In today's episode, Brian asks, "What is one thing you can appreciate about your current life today, and how might cultivating gratitude for it lead to a deeper sense of fulfillment?" Enjoy Episode 41 of The Search for Fulfillment. #BeNEXT

The Goods is a new series that delivers wisdom for personal and professional growth. In today's episode, Michael contrasts Amundsen's steady, disciplined push to the South Pole with Scott's surge-and-stall approach to reveal why boring consistency beats heroic bursts. Learn how setting non-negotiable daily targets, banking rest on easy days, and designing for real conditions can compound into winning results.Enjoy Episode 42 of The Goods. #BeNEXT

Imagine walk-through day with nothing to fix. In this Hard Hat Headspace episode, a foreman turns “good enough” into “done-done” with field-ready moves: a door-posted Gold Box standard (photos you can point to), a pocket Q-Card(height, label, torque mark, photo), and blue → white → green tags that prove self-check, peer-check, and Next Trade Ready. You'll learn a five-minute fishbone huddle to kill recurring defects, a shared label printer/template hack that ends “mystery fonts,” and simple ergo tweaks that speed work without beating people up. Foremen, supers, and craft leads: if you're tired of late-night punchlists and “come back later,” press play and make first-pass green your new normal. #BeNEXT

The Search for Fulfillment is a new short series released each Friday where we uncover lessons of the greatest minds to help you live with purpose, passion, and peace. In today's episode, Brian asks, "What part of your journey can you embrace today, and how can the courage to keep growing bring you closer to a fulfilling life?" Enjoy Episode 40 of The Search for Fulfillment. #BeNEXT

The Goods is a new series that delivers wisdom for personal and professional growth. In today's episode, Michael follows John Snow through cholera-stricken London as his street-level data and a simple act—removing a pump handle—turn fear into facts and action. Learn how going to the ground, visualizing truth, and making one decisive move can spark systemic fixes that last.Enjoy Episode 41 of The Goods. #BeNEXT

Two shifts, one plan. In this episode, walk the line between day and night with a handover routine that turns 24 hours into one continuous workday. You'll get field-ready moves: a three-minute SBAR strip, the 3–2–1snapshot (three photos, two blockers, one decision request), a simple OODA note to stay adaptive, a red/yellow/green zone map everyone can read at 20 feet, and a hard 24-hour decision SLA that kills lag. We'll also cover Night Cart Manifests and a five-item Hot List to prevent morning scavenger hunts. Foremen and supers will leave with a playbook for faster starts, cleaner handoffs, and calmer days. #BeNEXT

The Search for Fulfillment is a new short series released each Friday where we uncover lessons of the greatest minds to help you live with purpose, passion, and peace. In today's episode, Brian asks, "How can you serve others today, and what impact do you think that act of service will have on your sense of fulfillment?" Enjoy Episode 39 of The Search for Fulfillment. #BeNEXT

Your job isn't slow—your materials are. In this episode, step into a medical tower where a foreman turns hallway chaos into smooth, point-of-use flow. You'll learn field-ready moves: a 15-minute spaghetti walk, a two-bin supermarket at the room door, a dedicated water spider to restock kits, and simple kit kanban tags that kill stockouts. We'll also cover quick ergonomic wins (waist-high reels, shoulder-to-knee storage) and three metrics that matter: touches per item, travel minutes, stockouts.Foremen and supers walk away with a logistics playbook that cuts wandering, boosts first-time quality, and makes the last 50 feet the fastest part of the job. #BeNEXT

The Goods is a new series that delivers wisdom for personal and professional growth. In today's episode, Michael revisits Paul O'Neill's audacious pledge to make worker safety Alcoa's north star—and how that single moral metric rewired the entire company. Learn how turning values into mechanisms and pushing authority to the front line can lift culture, quality, and performance all at once.Enjoy Episode 40 of The Goods. #BeNEXT

The Search for Fulfillment is a new short series released each Friday where we uncover lessons of the greatest minds to help you live with purpose, passion, and peace. In today's episode, Brian asks, "What is one action you can take today to fully embrace the present moment, and how might that bring you closer to a fulfilling life?" Enjoy Episode 38 of The Search for Fulfillment. #BeNEXT

The Goods is a new series that delivers wisdom for personal and professional growth. In today's episode, Michael traces a junior nurse's “time-out” and a 19-box checklist avert a dangerous allergy error, proving that small pauses save lives. Discover how normalizing the pause, giving every voice the mic, and standardizing the basics while personalizing the plan can build a culture where safety and performance rise together.Enjoy Episode 39 of The Goods. #BeNEXT

First days shape entire careers. In this episode, walk the site with a superintendent who turns rookie nerves into real productivity using a 15-minute First-Hour Tour, a buddy system built on “watch one, do one, teach back one,” and two pocket tools: the Job Map (Access, Info, Material, Tools, Predecessors) and a 10-day Passport Page for must-have skills. You'll hear field-ready moves that boost safety, speed learning, and cut rework—plus simple morale builders like a crew Win Board and a 90-second Look Back/Look Ahead close-out. Foremen, supers, and craft leads: if you hire, train, or coach on the slab, this is your blueprint for onboarding that actually sticks. #BeNEXT

The Search for Fulfillment is a new short series released each Friday where we uncover lessons of the greatest minds to help you live with purpose, passion, and peace. In today's episode, Brian asks, "How can you reflect on your past experiences today, and what lessons can you apply to move forward with greater fulfillment?" Enjoy Episode 37 of The Search for Fulfillment. #BeNEXT

The Goods is a new series that delivers wisdom for personal and professional growth. In today's episode, Michael traces Florence Nightingale from lamplit wards to data-driven reform, showing how a single visual made invisible harm undeniable. Learn how pairing compassion with clear evidence—and turning metrics into fixes—can bend the curve on any team's toughest problems.Enjoy Episode 38 of The Goods. #BeNEXT

Two lifts, one corridor, zero patience—sound familiar? In this episode, watch a superintendent turn a brewing standoff into smooth flow with a simple, repeatable play: a 2-minute F-I-O-D huddle (Facts, Interests, Options, Decide), a one-page Corridor Rules board, a tongue-in-cheek “Peace Line” down the floor, and a 10-Foot Talk that certifies areas truly ready. You'll leave with field scripts, sketches, and tiny interface compacts that cut RFIs, protect schedules, and keep crews working—not arguing. If you're a foreman, super, or craft lead who deals with crowded spaces and tight windows, this is your toolkit for less heat and more handoff. #BeNEXT

The Search for Fulfillment is a new short series released each Friday where we uncover lessons of the greatest minds to help you live with purpose, passion, and peace. In today's episode, Brian asks, "What is one way you can focus on the present moment today, and how might embracing the now bring you a deeper sense of fulfillment?" Enjoy Episode 36 of The Search for Fulfillment. #BeNEXT

The Goods is a new series that delivers wisdom for personal and professional growth. In today's episode, Michael boards the USS Santa Fe to relive the moment a helmsman revealed an order that didn't exist—and how Captain David Marquet transformed blind compliance into intent-based leadership. Learn how to push authority to where the information lives, make truth safe to tell, and train judgment over obedience.Enjoy Episode 37 of The Goods. #BeNEXT

Busy isn't progress. In this Hard Hat Headspace episode, walk a school renovation with a foreman who caps chaos using simple, field-ready tools: two “work tokens” per installer, a red/green room tag for Next Trade Ready, and a hallway kanban that makes starts—and finishes—visible. You'll learn how small batch flow cuts rework, pulls inspections sooner, and steadies labor curves; how to pair prefab/kitting with WIP limits for real speed; and how a daily improvement kata turns small wins into big momentum. Foremen, supers, and craft leads will leave with a clear playbook to trade scatter for stride—and turn “almost done” into “done-done.” #BeNEXT

The Search for Fulfillment is a new short series released each Friday where we uncover lessons of the greatest minds to help you live with purpose, passion, and peace. In today's episode, Brian asks, "How can you embrace your unique journey today, and what steps can you take to live more authentically and without comparison?" Enjoy Episode 35 of The Search for Fulfillment. #BeNEXT

The Goods is a new series that delivers wisdom for personal and professional growth. In today's episode, Michael revisits the Golden Gate Bridge build and how Chief Engineer Joseph Strauss' unseen safety net saved lives and redefined success. Discover why great leaders invest in protections no one applauds—putting people before progress, designing safety into the work, and turning honest signals into stronger results.Enjoy Episode 36 of The Goods. #BeNEXT

When the clock is ticking and the AHJ is waiting, great crews don't panic—they prepare. In this episode, you'll learn a fast, field-tested playbook for high-stakes moments: a five-minute pre-mortem (hat tip Gary Klein), a simple Risks-Signals-Actions board (Karl Weick), a 60-second challenge-response checklist (Atul Gawande), intent-based leadership you can use today (“I intend to…”), and a two-minute After Action Review. Foremen, supers, and craft leads will walk away with tools to cut rework, steady shutdowns, and keep schedules honest—without the drama. If you run work under pressure, this is your edge. #BeNEXT

The Search for Fulfillment is a new short series released each Friday where we uncover lessons of the greatest minds to help you live with purpose, passion, and peace. In today's episode, Brian asks, "What part of yourself can you embrace more fully today...aka Hugging the Cactus... and how might that help you become the person you are meant to be?" Enjoy Episode 34 of The Search for Fulfillment. #BeNEXT

The Goods is a new series that delivers wisdom for personal and professional growth. In today's episode, Michael revisits Abraham Lincoln's unsent letter to General Meade—a quiet act of restraint that protected dignity and kept the mission on course. Hear how pausing before you press “send” can turn reaction into leadership, preserving trust while focusing energy on the next right decision!Enjoy Episode 35 of The Goods. #BeNEXT

Speaking up shouldn't be a career risk. In this episode of Hard Hat Headspace, we step onto a high-stakes healthcare build where a rookie's question prevents a costly mistake—because the foreman has hardwired “If you see it, say it.” You'll learn field-ready moves: two-question safety openers, 120-second micro-debriefs, and visible close-the-loop boards that turn near-misses into next-day wins. Backed by insights popularized by Harvard's Amy Edmondson and reinforced by FMI/HBR research, plus jobsite spotlights where candor and standards live side by side, this episode shows crews how to pair trust with teeth—and why that combo delivers safer, faster, better work. #BeNEXT

The Search for Fulfillment is a new short series released each Friday where we uncover lessons of the greatest minds to help you live with purpose, passion, and peace. In today's episode, Brian asks, "How can you serve others today, and how might that act of giving bring you a deeper sense of fulfillment?" Enjoy Episode 33 of The Search for Fulfillment. #BeNEXT

The Goods is a new series that delivers wisdom for personal and professional growth. In today's episode, Michael revisits the Johnson & Johnson's 1982 Tylenol crisis and the moment CEO Jim Burke pointed to the Credo, choosing people over profit with a full recall and radical transparency. Learn how values-first decisions, telling the whole truth fast, and innovating as part of the apology can turn a reputational freefall into a trust-building inflection point.Enjoy Episode 34 of The Goods. #BeNEXT

Noise isn't the problem—confusion is. In this episode, we follow a superintendent who turns hallway chaos into clean handoffs using a 30-second clarity test (3W1H: What, Why, Who, How), micro-updates (7 a.m., lunch, close-out), and simple visuals—taped zones, QR-linked specs, and bright RFI tags. You'll get field-ready scripts that any foreman, super, or craft lead can use to cut rework and keep flow. This is the episode that helps your directions land the first time—because if a first-day apprentice can repeat it, the message can move. #BeNEXT

The Search for Fulfillment is a new short series released each Friday where we uncover lessons of the greatest minds to help you live with purpose, passion, and peace. In today's episode, Brian asks, "What is one area of your life where you can let go of control, and how might that bring you more peace and fulfillment?" Enjoy Episode 32 of The Search for Fulfillment. #BeNEXT

Before 7:00 a.m., your day is already won—or lost. In this kickoff to Hard Hat Headspace, we step onto the jobsite with a foreman who turns a shaky morning into a smooth-flowing shift using a two-minute huddle, a visible plan, and a no-drama constraint log. Keeping with the foundation of The NEXT Academy, this episode is backed by insights from FMI, McKinsey, and Harvard Business Review. You'll get field-ready tactics (3W1H, make-ready checks, quick visual boards) that boost productivity, safety, and morale. If you lead crews—foremen, supers, or craft pros—this episode is your playbook to win the day before it starts. #BeNEXT

The Goods is a new series that delivers wisdom for personal and professional growth. In today's episode, Michael takes us to a chaotic hospital jobsite, where a superintendent turns blue painter's tape into a daily ritual that transforms blame into fixes and stalled schedules into momentum. Discover how making work visible, shrinking problems to “tomorrow-sized” steps, and elevating frontline voices can reset a project's culture—and your leadership.Enjoy Episode 33 of The Goods. #BeNEXT

The Search for Fulfillment is a new short series released each Friday where we uncover lessons of the greatest minds to help you live with purpose, passion, and peace. In today's episode, Brian asks, "What unanswered questions in your life can you embrace with patience, and how might that perspective bring you greater fulfillment along your journey?" Enjoy Episode 31 of The Search for Fulfillment. #BeNEXT

The Goods is a new series that delivers wisdom for personal and professional growth. In today's episode, Michael relives the Berlin Airlift through Lieutenant Gail “Hal” Halvorsen's heart‑lifting “Candy Parachutes” and shows how a pocketful of gum reshaped an entire mission's morale. This episode reveals why small acts of empathy and creativity can ripple into large‑scale change, teaching leaders to deliver hope alongside the essentials.Enjoy Episode 32 of The Goods. #BeNEXT

The Search for Fulfillment is a new short series released each Friday where we uncover lessons of the greatest minds to help you live with purpose, passion, and peace. In today's episode, Brian asks, "How can you shift your mindset today to focus on positive thoughts, and how might that shift impact your sense of fulfillment?" Enjoy Episode 30 of The Search for Fulfillment. #BeNEXT

Hot Wire is a new series that dives deep into complex leadership challenges on construction sites and offers tangible solutions to explore as you face these obstacles head on. In today's episode, Alex takes a look at navigating strategic decision-making in high-stakes construction projects. How do you make sound, high-level decisions in an industry known for its unpredictability? Let's find out.Enjoy Episode 9 of Hot Wire. #BeNEXT

The Goods is a new series that delivers wisdom for personal and professional growth. In today's episode, Michael follows Mei's five‑year vigil over a seemingly barren patch of soil that suddenly erupts into a ninety‑foot bamboo grove, revealing the power of unseen growth. Discover why patience, daily consistency, and faith in long‑term vision are the leadership roots that eventually shoot sky‑high.Enjoy Episode 31 of The Goods. #BeNEXT

The Search for Fulfillment is a new short series released each Friday where we uncover lessons of the greatest minds to help you live with purpose, passion, and peace. In today's episode, Brian asks, "What imperfections in your life can you embrace today, and how might accepting them lead to a deeper sense of fulfillment?" Enjoy Episode 29 of The Search for Fulfillment. #BeNEXT

The Goods is a new series that delivers wisdom for personal and professional growth. In today's episode, Michael recounts how Japanese consul Chiune Sugihara defied orders in 1940 to handwrite thousands of life‑saving visas for Jewish refugees, sacrificing his career to uphold a deeper moral code. Tune in to explore what his “Visas at Dawn” teach us about choosing values over directives, acting with urgency, and paying personal costs for the sake of others' futures.Enjoy Episode 30 of The Goods. #BeNEXT

The Search for Fulfillment is a new short series released each Friday where we uncover lessons of the greatest minds to help you live with purpose, passion, and peace. In today's episode, Brian asks, "How can you practice being more present in your daily life, and how might that enhance your sense of fulfillment?" Enjoy Episode 28 of The Search for Fulfillment. #BeNEXT

The Goods is a new series that delivers wisdom for personal and professional growth. In today's episode, Michael takes us to Antarctica as Ernest Shackleton's doomed Endurance expedition shows how unwavering optimism and people-first promises can steer teams through the harshest storms. Discover practical lessons on rewriting goals to safeguard your crew, sustaining morale when plans shatter, and delivering on the commitments that define true leadership.Enjoy Episode 29 of The Goods. #BeNEXT

The Search for Fulfillment is a new short series released each Friday where we uncover lessons of the greatest minds to help you live with purpose, passion, and peace. In today's episode, Brian asks, "How can you be more intentional in nurturing your relationships, and what small act of kindness can you offer someone today?" Enjoy Episode 27 of The Search for Fulfillment. #BeNEXT

The Goods is a new series that delivers wisdom for personal and professional growth. In today's episode, Michael relives Kathrine Switzer's historic 1967 Boston Marathon run and the dramatic moment she refused to be pushed off the course—literally—by those who said women didn't belong. Hear how her courage, allied support, and relentless advocacy transformed one daring finish into a movement that rewrote the rulebook for runners everywhere.Enjoy Episode 28 of The Goods. #BeNEXT

The Search for Fulfillment is a new short series released each Friday where we uncover lessons of the greatest minds to help you live with purpose, passion, and peace. In today's episode, Brian asks, "How can you shift your perspective today to find more meaning and fulfillment in the ordinary moments of your life?" Enjoy Episode 26 of The Search for Fulfillment. #BeNEXT

The Goods is a new series that delivers wisdom for personal and professional growth. In today's episode, Michael revisits the harrowing Apollo 13 crisis to reveal how Gene Kranz and his team turned chaos into collaboration with nothing but calm focus, duct tape, and collective ingenuity. Tune in to discover leadership lessons on steadying a room, sparking creativity under constraints, and harnessing shared ownership when everything is on the line.Enjoy Episode 27 of The Goods. #BeNEXT

The Search for Fulfillment is a new short series released each Friday where we uncover lessons of the greatest minds to help you live with purpose, passion, and peace. In today's episode, Brian asks, "How can you embrace change in your life right now, and what new opportunities might it bring for your growth and fulfillment?" Enjoy Episode 25 of The Search for Fulfillment. #BeNEXT

Hot Wire is a new series that dives deep into complex leadership challenges on construction sites and offers tangible solutions to explore as you face these obstacles head on. In today's episode, Alex tackles a topic that has sent shockwaves through the industry over the last few years: supply chain disruptions. How do you, as a leader, not only survive these disruptions but turn them into an opportunity to build resilience into your operations.Enjoy Episode 8 of Hot Wire. #BeNEXT